Shooting the way to fusion energy...Super high-velocity projectiles might ultimately beat lasers in the race to achieve practical fusion energy

Asia Times ^ | DECEMBER 18, 2023 | By JONATHAN TENNENBAUM

[Red Badger]

Con-Fusion Ping!...................

[Brian Griffin]

Shoot two pellets at each other at half the speed each?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

They got a guy in a white lab coat and an old skinny professor-looking dude.

It'll be a BIG success!

(in 50 years or so)

[Reily]

As my plasma physics prof would fusion power is 20 years away and always will be!

[ckilmer]

My understanding is that the laser fusion process is purely experimental. They are rapidly getting better. The federal lab in california is not only getting higher yields but they are able to shorten the time between each test. Its very exciting. But the laser fusion process does not have a way to commercialization like the private companies latest iterations of the tokamaks. the tokamak companies have been springing up like weeds all over the world—but especially in north america. It appears that a convergence of several technologies have accelerated their development. The real tell is that private money has come into the space to the tune of over 7 billion dollars. One fusion company in Washington has signed a contract with microsoft to provide electricity via fusion in 2020. Another fusion company in Massachusetts has broken ground for the their first fusion reactor.

I’m happy to be corrected if my understanding is wrong.

[null and void]

I bet BFG doesn’t stand for Big Friendly Gun...

[dayglored]

"Big Friendly Gun". Presumably with the acronym "BFG".

I can guarantee you that "BFG" originally stood for something a little more profane. LOL

[dayglored]

Phooey! 2 minutes!

[null and void]

Ya gotta get up mighty early...

[null and void]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4211070/posts?page=5#5

[Red Badger]

“Everything is impossible until someone does it.” Robert Heinlein............

[dayglored]

Ah yes I remember reading that one. We all get nicked some time or another.

[Red Badger]

The theory behind fusion is really simple. Here is an oversimplification: Take two Hydrogen atoms and squeeze them together until they form a Helium atom and give off the excess energy as heat. Stars do it with massive amounts of gravity from the massive amount of Hydrogen they contain. Scientists don't have the luxury of massive amounts of gravity so they try to achieve the same thing using magnetism, or high voltage, kinetic energy or explosive energy. Hydrogen atoms do not want to change into Helium atoms. They will resist that change with all their atomic might. Now Scientists in several countries have achieved fusion reactions on a grand scale, the 'Hydrogen Bomb'('H' Bomb). This reaction requires a Fission ('A' Bomb) bomb to get it started, and it releases a lot of energy: Wiki: In May 2023, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) provided a grant of $46 million to eight companies across seven states to support fusion power plant design and research efforts. This funding, under the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, aligns with objectives to demonstrate pilot-scale fusion within a decade and to develop fusion as a carbon-neutral energy source by 2050. The granted companies are tasked with addressing the scientific and technical challenges to create viable fusion pilot plant designs in the next 5-10 years. The recipient firms include Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Focused Energy Inc., Princeton Stellarators Inc., Realta Fusion Inc., Tokamak Energy Inc., Type One Energy Group, Xcimer Energy Inc., and Zap Energy Inc.[263]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red Badger.

---

---

· List topics · post a topic · subscribe · Google ·

---

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Fusion is a con game.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

500 years…. If that.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Your understanding is wrong. The big problem is fuel. He3 is needed to make fusion work. It’s on the moon. It would make more sense to acquire the fuel first, then figure out how to do it. The reason they don’t acquire the needed fuel? It’s on the moon.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Heinlein is my hero. He would say, “Why the frig are we smashing atoms when we can split them 100 times easier?”

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Fusion is actually 200 years away and also probably always will be. People just REFUSE to see the problems with it.